Process for producing transparent effects upon cotton fabrics



Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD I. HUEY, OF SAYLESVILLE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SAYLES FINISHING PLANTS, INC., OF SAYLESVILLE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TRANSPARENT EFFECTS UPON COTTON FABRICS.

No Drawing. Application filed May 19, 1922, Serial No. 562,243. Renewed September 30, 1924.

i To all whom-it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HARoLn I. HUEY, 'a

citizen of the United States, residing at- Saylesville, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Processes for Producing Transparent Eifects'Upon Cotton Fabrics,

of which the following description is a speci- This invention relates to processes for producing transparent or organdie effects in cotton fabrics.

It is now well known that a cotton fabriccording to Mercer in 1844, this parchmentlike character will be obtained if the sulphuric acid is of a concentration of from 49.5 to 53.5 B.- The action of the sulphuric acid is also known to be more intense when the cotton fabric has been previously mercerized and the acid concentration is over 50 B. It is also known that transparent effects may be produced in cotton goods by subjecting the fabric to the repeated action of sulphuric acid of over 50 B. and concentrated alkali lye, and that regulation of temperature in some cases to a point about 0 C. or, less may still further modify the effect produced.-

To secure the desired result in any case requires nicety of control of the sulphuric acid concentration, since variation in this causes variations in the character and appearance of the product. One of the purposes of the present invention therefore is to provide a-process for the production of transparent effects in woven cotton fabrics in which a wide range of variation in the concentration of the acid employed may be possible without material variation in the resulting, product.

4 Where the concentration of the sulphuric acid must be maintained constant and at a.

substantially fixed point,'or between very narrow limits, the watchful care of skilled operatives is required to avoid damage or variations in the woven fabric under treatment. One of the important features of the present inventlon consists in a process for producing transparent effects in woven cotphosphoric, or even with nitric acid, but

similar restricted limitations in the range of variations of concentration exist as in the case with sulphuric acid. I have found that sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid united in determined proportions produces a hydrochloric-sulphuric acid having an' effect on woven cotton fabrics different from either, and that where a cotton fabric is treated by hydrochloric-sulphuric acid a fine, uniform, transparent organdie results, and that a wide range in variation of concentration of the acid may occur without material variation in the uniform texture of the resulting product. This permissible wide range of concentration of the hydrochloric-sulphuric acid is of great importance in furnishing a wider range of control, elimination to a degree at least of the watchful attention of skilled experts, and lending commercial practicability to the process.

In practicing the process in accordance with the present invention, the woven cotton fabric may be boiled, bleached and dried and then mercerized and again dried, or it may be mercerized, then boiled, bleached and dried. In any event, however, it is desirable to remove from the woven cotton fabric the natural gums and waxes inherent in the fibre and also to remove the sizing placed upon the fabric during the finishing operation following weaving.

The process may be practiced on either mercerized or unmercerized woven cotton fabric but preferably the woven cotton fabric will be mercerized, because such preliminary mercerization causes the yarn to become more even and of a uniform texture, while the fabric'as a whole is rendered more susceptible to the acid treatment to follow.

In forming the acid combination, the hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, each of which has a Well-known parchmentizing effect, but of a character different from that of sulphuric acid, and whichever be used, preferably hydrochloric acid, the com- The proportion of the acids well suited for the purpose is sulphuric acid of about 56 B. concentration, for instance, combined with the commercial hydrochloric acid in the proportion of one part ofeach, theresult being with respect to such proportions thatthe hydrochloric-sulphuric acid will be of a concentration of about 41 B. Higher concentration of the mixture, for instance, as high as 50 B., may be reached by mixing the sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid together in a proportion of about 3% parts of siulphuric acid to one part of hydrochloric acl w l V The acid mixture thus obtained may vary in concentration between wide ranges, as for instance, with respect to the above mixture from 41 B. to 50 B., and et produce a f clear, uniform, organdie e ect on cotton 7 fabric treated by it.

I The woven cotton fabric whether previously mercerized or not, is then subjected to thehydrochloric-sulphuric acid, preferably of a concentration of from 41, to 50 B. and is then preferably remercerized to increase the finished appearance and.organ-- action of hydrochloric-sulphuric acid of. a a

concentration of from 41 to B. formed by a combination of from one to three and one-third parts sulphuric acid, one part of hydrochloric acid, and then washing and drying the treated fabric.

In testimony whereof, I name to this specification.

I HAROLD VI. HUEY.

have signed my 

